New England Bean Bog Cassoulet Recipes

NEW ENGLAND BEAN & BOG CASSOULET

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. In batches, brown chicken thighs on both sides; remove from pan, reserving drippings. Add sausage; cook and stir until lightly browned. Remove from pan., In same pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add shallots, rosemary and thyme; cook and stir until shallots are tender, 1-2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, beans, broth and cranberries. Return chicken and sausage to pan; bring to a boil. Bake, covered, until chicken is tender, 20-25 minutes., Toss croissant pieces with remaining 2 tablespoons oil; sprinkle with lemon pepper. Arrange over chicken mixture. Bake, uncovered, until croissants are golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

CHEF JOHN'S CASSOULET

Steps:

• Rinse soaked beans and drain.
• Pour broth into a large pot. Add chopped pancetta, bones from duck confit, and the drained beans. Tie bay leaves, peppercorns, thyme sprigs, and garlic into a small square of cheesecloth to create the bouquet garni; add to the pot. Stir. Bring to a simmer over high heat; skim foamy scum that forms, if desired. Reduce heat to low until beans are almost tender, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Sprinkle pork pieces with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; brown the pork pieces, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Add sausage to the skillet and cook in the same oil, turning until nicely browned on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Cut sausages in half and transfer to bowl with pork pieces.
• Remove fat and skin from duck confit and add them to the same skillet. Cook over medium heat until fat is rendered, about 3 minutes. Transfer all fat and browned pieces from the skillet to a mixing bowl. Add melted butter. Stir in bread crumbs and chopped parsley; stir until mixture looks like damp sand. Mix in about 1/4 to 1/2 cup broth.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place onions, carrots, and celery in the same skillet used to brown the meats; add pinch of salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until onions are translucent and mixture turns golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in tomato paste; cook and stir until tomato paste starts to caramelize and stick to the bottom of the pan, 3 or 4 minutes. Pour in white wine; cook and stir until most of the wine evaporates, 5 or 6 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Drain beans over a large bowl to retain all the cooking liquid. Remove bones and bouquet garni.
• Place drained beans in large shallow baking dish or cast iron skillet (about 12 inches in diameter and 3 inches deep). Stir in cooked vegetables and about 1 cup broth. Add pork pieces and distribute evenly among the beans. Top with the shredded duck confit. Nestle the sausage halves into the bean mixture.
• Ladle cooking liquid into the baking dish until beans are nearly submerged. Spread bread crumb mixture evenly over the top but don't press into the liquid. Use your fingertips to make gentle indentations on the crumb surface for better browning.
• Bake in preheated oven until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 2 hours. Remove from oven and create a small "well" in the center of the cassoulet crust. Ladle about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid (or as needed) into the well to rehydrate mixture. Use a fork to gently poke into the cassoulet to ensure the liquid is fairly evenly distributed but try not to disturb the crusty surface.
• Continue baking until cassoulet surface is crispy and caramelized, the meat is fork tender, and the beans are creamy and tender, about 30 to 45 more minutes.
• Serve in large bowls with a spoonful or 2 of hot cooking liquid. Top with chopped fresh parsley.

CASSOULET WITH FRESH BEANS

Steps:

• Combine the garlic and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a blender or food processor. Puree until smooth. Set aside. Grill the chicken drumsticks over hot coals until lightly charred, about 3 minutes on each side. Skin. Brush with 1/2 the roasted garlic puree. Lay a piece of foil over the grill. Put the chicken on the foil. Cover the grill and continue cooking until the meat is opaque at the bone, about 5 to 8 minutes. Set aside.
• Combine the remaining olive oil, leeks, roasted onions and garlic in a heavy-bottom pot. Saute over medium-high heat until the leeks begin to wilt, about 3 minutes. Add the navy beans, wine, broth, cloves, bouquet garni and tomatoes. Simmer until the beans are tender, about 2 to 3 hours. Take out 1 cup of the broth and pour it into a glass or ceramic bowl. Set aside to cool slightly. Whisk in the remaining roasted garlic puree. Set aside.
• Blanch the fava beans in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain. Rinse under cold running water. Peel off their outer skins. Set aside.
• Add the carrots and chicken to the cassoulet and simmer for 10 additional minutes. Turn off the heat, whisk in the roasted garlic sauce and add the fava beans. Let the fava beans sit in the hot liquid for 3 to 5 minutes before serving. Divide among 4 bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley and basil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.